
36
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
Notes
1.
"As he drew near his journey's end, the thought of
Esau brought many a troubled foreboding. After the flight
of Jacob, Esau had regarded himself as the sole heir of their
father's possessions. The news of Jacob's return would ex-
cite the fear that he was coming to claim the inheritance.
Esau was now able to do his brother great injury, if so dis-
posed, and he might be moved to violence against him, not
only by the desire for revenge, but in order to secure undis-
turbed possession of the wealth which he had so long looked
upon as his
own."—"Patriarchs and Prophets," p. 195.
2.
"He [Jacob] therefore dispatched messengers with a
conciliatory greeting to his brother. He instructed them as to
the exact words in which they were to address Esau. It had
been foretold before the birth of the two brothers, that the
elder should serve the younger, and lest the memory of this
should be a cause of bitterness, Jacob told the servants they
were sent to 'my lord Esau;' when brought before him, they
were to refer to their master as thy servant Jacob;' and to
remove the fear that he was returning, a destitute wanderer,
to claim the paternal inheritance, Jacob was careful to state,
in his message, 'I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and men-
servants, and womenservants; and I have sent to tell my lord,
that I may find grace in thy sight.'
"— Id., pp. 195, 196.
3.
"The struggle continued until near the break of day,
when the stranger placed his finger upon Jacob's thigh, and
he was crippled instantly. The patriarch now discerned the
character of his antagonist. He knew that he had been in
conflict with a heavenly messenger, and this was why his
almost superhuman effort had not gained the victory. It was
Christ, 'the Angel of the covenant,' who had revealed Himself
to Jacob. The patriarch was now disabled, and suffering the
keenest pain, but he would not loosen his hold. All penitent
and broken, he clung to the Angel; 'he wept, and made sup-
plication,' pleading for a blessing. He must have the as-
surance that his sin was pardoned. Physical pain was not
sufficient to divert his mind from this object. His determina,
tion grew stronger, his faith more earnest and persevering,
until the very last. The Angel tried to release Himself; He
urged, 'Let Me go, for the day breaketh;' but Jacob answered,
`I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.' Had this been
a boastful, presumptuous confidence, Jacob would have been
instantly destroyed; but his was the assurance of one who
confesses his own unworthiness, yet trusts the faithfulness of
a covenant-keeping God."—
Id.,
p.
197.
4.
"As an evidence that he had been forgiven, his name
was changed from one that was a reminder of hie sin, to one
that commemorated his victory."—
Id.,
p.
198.